Timan Goshit
Technology and Policy in Africa
May 17, 2006
The world’s most developed countries, for the most part, share
the characteristic of being highly adaptive to change, whether
economic, social, or technological. A country’s ability to keep up
with technological advances is often an indication of its economic
stability. However, its ability to manipulate changing technologies
for the purpose of increased financial stability is an indication of its
economic wisdom.
Countries that are able to keep up with the fast-changing
technologies are usually well informed, as users of these technologies
must possess a sense of familiarity with the tools they are utilizing.
A major technological breakthrough in the past few years has
been the emergence of ICT, which Information Communications
Technology. ICT has become increasingly popular. It is effective in
disseminating information, in addition to serving as an “environment
[that] supports economic development.” (Hesselmark and Esselaar)
The final draft of the National Information and
Communication Technology Policy for Zambia defines ICT as
“A generic term used to express the convergence of
telecommunications, information technology, broadcasting and
communications.”
Furthermore, the Policy states “ICT is one of the enablers to
building a people-centered, inclusive and development-oriented
information society; where everyone can create, access, utilize and
share information and knowledge by enabling individuals,
communities, corporate bodies and the nation at large to achieve full
potential in achieving sustainable social and
economic growth – a precondition for poverty reduction thereby
improving the quality of people’s lives.”
From 2002 to 2004, the Zambian government worked to build
upon the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, which focus
provides analytic reports on poverty levels in Zambia. The main
goals of the PRSP is to promote economic growth with respect to
manufacturing, to improve social conditions, and finally, to
“incorporate crosscutting policies for HIV/AIDS, gender and the
environment. (World Bank)
According to the Zambian PRSP:
Once a middle income country, Zambia has lived through three
decades of declining living standards arising from poor
1
Timan Goshit
Technology and Policy in Africa
May 17, 2006
management of the government-owned copper mines, falling
export revenues (over two-thirds of which is from copper
exports), failure to diversify the economy away from mining,
weak macro-economic management, rising foreign debt, and
recurrent fiscal crises. Despite attempts since the mid 1990s to
improve performance through macroeconomic stabilization
and structural reforms (including privatization of the mines),
growth has proved elusive. Per capita income in 2000 was
about 60 percent of its level in the late 1 960s. It is appropriate
therefore that the approach adopted in the development of the
PRSP has been to analyze the lessons of the past and to focus
on growth-promoting strategies for the future. However, in the
last stages of finalization of the PRSP, Zambia has faced a new
crisis, precipitated by the threatened withdrawal of the
principal copper producer. This situation has introduced
enormous uncertainty into the policy-making environment.
However, the crisis has increased rather than diminished the
relevance of the strategy of growth and diversification adopted
in the PRSP, and the urgency of its effective implementation.
As with many other African countries, Zambia’s economy
continues to decline. It is ironic in light of the growing ICT industry,
which has been praised for bringing financial resources into both
growing and already developed nations. Zambia has an 86 percent
poverty rate, which increased since 1998. Surprisingly, poverty
levels have increased more in urban areas than in rural areas.
(Zambian PRSP; ICT Survey for Zambia)
In African, more specifically Zambia, traveling is a fundamental
means of acquiring information. People travel to hear news, to keep
up with relatives and friends, to make telephone calls, and to attend
school. It would be plausible to make the assumption that “5 million
adults in Zambia makes two long bus trips each year in search of
information.” Considering that each person spends about $4.00 per
year on their trips, a total of $20 million dollars is invested in the
search for information. $20 million would be quite sufficient to fund
an ICT Project, as Zambia’s Gross Domestic Product is $8.5 billion
PPP. (ICT Survey for Zambia)
In the midst of poverty, both government and industry suffer
from corruption. Zambia is in high debt, and privatization of
companies is not high on the agenda of the Zambian government,
2
Timan Goshit
Technology and Policy in Africa
May 17, 2006
although it would be favorable for the country’s crippled economy.
Outside investors are skeptical of the practicality of investing in
Zambia, as business success is very unstable. In terms of ICT, an
ISP company was forced to wait over a year to be granted a license
from the Communications Authority. Other companies have
thwarted the licensing policy, creating horrible financial risks and
disasters for both issuing creditors and customers, alike. (ICT Survey
for Zambia)
It would seem as Zambia is at the point of no return. Its multifaceted social, political and economic system is in danger. However,
as stated earlier, ICT is a viable solution to the county’s many
problems, particularly those pertaining to poverty. The $4.00 that
people spent on trips could be used to fund electronic
communications. Zambians could halve the number of trips they
take, while investing $2.00 into communications, whether cell phone
service or email. This would make $10 million available for the
communications industry. In Zambia, an internet café charges an
average of $2.00 per hour for internet usage, which, even the poorest,
could manage to afford to pay for this quicker means of
communication. Internet cafes are relatively easy to locate in most
cities, with at least 10 in Lusaka, the capital. (ICT Survey for
Zambia)
Efforts have already been to “[make] networking and
knowledge sharing much easier.” Link Net, an ICT developmental
organization in Zambia, has began installing network connections in
the rural areas of Zambia’s Southern Province. (Haarhoff)
The network connections were implemented for a local hospital
in 2004 to help the health staff. As a result, almost 200 Zambians
were hired, and the community received an electronic link to the rest
of the world. Obviously, the institution of the ICT project served to
bridge multiple gaps, both social and economic. This ICT Project
will also be executed in at least 25 more areas around Zambia,
resulting in the creation of more jobs and increased social awareness.
(Haarhoff)
If Zambia continues to expend its resources on similar programs,
the country’s future can take a change in path. A shift towards the
ICT industry creates diversification in the economy, as
communications encompasses a large number of sectors, including
health, corporate, and transportation. ICT also provides a larger
amount of people with jobs. An equal amount of ICT projects
3
Timan Goshit
Technology and Policy in Africa
May 17, 2006
should be implemented in both urban and rural areas, though, as to
bridge the communication gap.
The main task of the Zambian government is to align its policies
with the Zambian PRSP, making the execution of such goals
inevitable. In the country’s installation of infrastructure such as
network systems, it paves the path for much change in various areas
of the country.
Rather than relying on the outside support from private
investors, the Zambian government may sufficiently rely on its
people and their own personal needs to fund communications
projects. People in the search of knowledge will make ways to do
anything they desire.
To summarize the paper, Zambia must make sure that its ICT
Policy underscores the ideals stresses in the country’s PRSP, which
include fighting poverty, making social change, and combating
HIV/AIDS. ICT Projects have the ability to combat all three
problems, simultaneously. It is the responsibility of the Zambian
government to see that private companies have the opportunity to
institute such changes. The government must also utilize the money
of its people and their own passions. It will be the country’s
responsibility to educate its people to enter the ICT workforce.
Zambia’s hope is in ICT.
Sources:
World Bank-ICT at a Glance
Olof Hesselmark & Philip Esselaar. “ICT Survey for Zambia”
Vanessa Haarhoff. “Zambia rolls out rural network.” 4 May 2006.
http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/internet/2006/0605041300.asp?S=Al
l%20Africa%20News&A=AFN&O=FRGN
Emmanuel Njugana & Anriette Esterhuysen. National ICT Policy
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2005/pr0580.htm
4
MIT OpenCourseWare
http://ocw.mit.edu
ES.259 Information and Communication Technology in Africa
Spring 2006
For information about citing these materials or our Terms of Use, visit: http://ocw.mit.edu/terms.